High-end audio brand Bang & Olufsen is known for its high-end design and equally as hefty prices. The company’s earbuds and headphones are typically more expensive than most of their competitors, but they’re not astronomically expensive. But that’s changed with the company’s flagship noise-cancelling headphones. Following up on the $999 Beoplay H95, B&O has announced the $1,549 Beoplay H100. The company says the H95 is its “most successful headphone to date,” and the H100 brings a number of improvements over that model.
Like most B&O headphones, the Beoplay H100 are made of premium materials, from the lambskin ear pads to the use of aluminum and knitted fabric. There’s also a scratch-resistant glass touch interface on the outside of the earcups. The company says the black, sand, and apricot options are inspired by fine jewellery, all of which combine what B&O describes as “design excellence”: “the solid shine of aluminum, the softness of leather, and the cool touch of glass.” The inner headband and ear pads are both removable, so they can be replaced when they become excessively worn or dirty.
Inspired by the company’s Beolab 90 speakers, the Beoplay H100 feature 40mm drivers that deliver “the clarity and dynamic performance normally only heard in high-end loudspeakers.” Hi-res audio is included in the mix, with support for 96kHz/24-bit tracks. Dolby Atmos is also playing, as is head tracking. B&O says adaptive audio technology called EarSense monitors the fit of the headphones and adjusts the sound profile in real time.
B&O says it has doubled the active noise-cancelling (ANC) performance of the H95s in this set, using 10 microphones in what the company describes as its best Transparency mode yet. Plus, you can dial in your preferred TrueTransparency level with a turn of the dial on the outside of the earcup. There’s also a Quick Listen mode if you need to be aware of your surroundings but don’t want to activate Transparency. Of course, there are also some wild claims about crystal-clear calls “even in the most challenging situations,” but that’s the same old story we expect from any headphone company.
The company designs its speakers and other audio gear to last a long time. B&O says they can be updated for years before their construction materials become obsolete. It also makes them easy for technicians to service, and all of that applies to the H100s as well. That’s something to keep in mind when you’re asking more than $1,000 for a set of cans. In addition to the aesthetic upgrades you can do yourself, the company says the design of the headphones makes them quick to service—the battery, glass top, drivers, and circuit boards. The company says its software “will stay abreast of new technologies,” and future updates will include key features like wireless high-resolution audio and three-device multipoint Bluetooth.
Similar to the AirPods Max, the Beoplay H100 go into a low-power mode when they’re out of the carrying case and not being worn. The company says the headphones can stay in this state for up to 90 days, and are ready to use as soon as you put them in. However, storing them in the case completely powers them down. The H100 can last up to 34 hours on a charge with ANC turned on, which is It’s cheaper H95.
Beoplay H100 is available from today in B&O stores and on the company’s website.
